'Working for the conservation and preservation of Thorpe's woodlands as a haven for wildlife and a green space for the local community'.


Friday 1 August 2014

Rock throws a wobbly

Following on from the excellent news that Broadland District Council has excluded Thorpe Woods from their plans for future development “on the grounds of impact on biodiversity” and the “very large number of strong public objection to development” Socially Conscious Capital’s Rock Fielden has decided to have a bit of a tantrum.

Despite the fact that his proposals have been clearly rejected by thousands of local people, Broadland District Council, the Norfolk Wildlife Trust, RSPB, Norwich Society etc. Rock still insists that his plans to build  hundreds of unwanted houses over this County Wildlife Site are still on the table. In his press release he states:

"Neither the commercial forestry nor the decision by Broadland District Council over the AAP allocation will prevent us from continuing to promote this proposal."

Unfortunately for Rock nobody else is at that table and nobody is interested in what he is continuing to promote.

Commercial Forestry

In his press release he goes on to say that “we will be continuing commercial forestry…this will centre on 35 acres being thinned/coppiced or selectively felled and another 12 acres, which will be clear felled”.

Obviously Rock hopes that this will be seen as punishment for him not getting what he wanted; the truth is that the Friends and Norfolk Wildlife Trust entirely support the sensible and sensitive management of the woods. Thinning and coppicing are beneficial to the woods and its wildlife, species such as White Admiral butterflies will thrive with the opening up of the tree canopy. 

Over the past 2 years Easton College has carried out coppicing and thinning in Belmore plantation and this has done no harm. As for felling, well under the Forestry Commission licences anything felled must be replanted.

These woods have been commercially managed for generations, people have worked in them for hundreds of years, their existence today is largely due to them being worked in the past. Sensible management of them now can help ensure their survival for generations to come.